How to Create a Surreal Underwater Scene with Adobe Photoshop

Step 11

Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and bring the Saturation values down to -45:

Add a Color Balance adjustment layer and alter the Midtones settings:

Step 12

Create a Photo Filter adjustment layer and pick the color #23a7f3.

Make a Curves adjustment layer to darken the lower of the fish. On this layer mask, use a soft black brush to erase the top of the fish to reveal the lightness there.

Step 13

Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 15-20% to refine the light and shadow on the fish to fit the background. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode.

Step 14

Make a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #1e4c5f to paint on the contour of the fish. Change this layer mode to Color Dodge 60% and add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to reduce the light around the mouth’s area.

Create a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #508ea4 to paint on the top around the top and mouth of the fish to give some blue there. Change this layer mode to Soft Light 100%.

Step 15

Open the sea image and use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select a sea part in the middle and place it on the top of the underwater part. Use the Free Transform Tool (Ctrl+T) to make this sea part thinner. Add a mask to this layer and use a medium-soft black brush to trim the edges of this part to make it softer and smoother.

Step 16

Make a Color Balance adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and to give the part near the horizon some yellow to fit the light there. On this layer mask, paint on the rest to keep its blue.

Step 17

Create a new layer on top of the layers and use a small white brush to paint the lines for the sea’s surface.

Step 18

Open the umbrella image and use the Magic Wand Tool (W) to isolate the umbrella from the white background. Use the Lasso Tool (L) to select the shaft of the umbrella to add to the middle of the fish. Use Ctrl+T to make the shaft thinner.